CNS: Dissent in Rheinland on the Rise

[Vogel]

NEW BERLIN - 01.13.819

The war with Liberty appears to be taking its toll on the citizens of Rheinland, already under duress in the form of numerous separatist and pirate groups which contest the government's legitimacy. Recent reports indicate that a number of riots have broken out in several of Planet New Berlin's major cities, some with political intentions, others with no apparent direction other than the venting of a restless populace. The Rheinland Federal Police maintains that the safety of the civilian populace is in good hands, and that any disturbances are "temporary inconveniences", but the continuing devaluation of the local Rheinmark and growing number of arrests suggests a much larger problem.

Radicalism seems to be encroaching on the main citizen body in recent months since the start of the war. On Tuesday, a "Humpback" freighter registered to a Dietrich Schumann crashed into Bonn Station, Interspace Commerce's local headquarters. While it was initially believed that it was an accident, examination of the wreckage determined that the ship had been rigged to detonate a large payload of conventional explosives upon impact. These explosives did not detonate upon contact with the station, and the damage done was only superficial. There were no reports of casualties other than Mister Schumann himself who did not survive the ordeal to stand trial. Authorities are still investigating the origin of the explosives, possibly provided by rebels such as the Red Hessians.

In an interesting case of theft, an historic spacecraft from the Imperial Era of Rheinland was stolen earlier today by a disgruntled museum worker. The ship, a "Spectre" light fighter which survived the Eighty Years War, was being refurbished by private investors for use in the National Museum of History as a working display. But shortly before its first test flight, Otto Berthold, a forty-two year old security guard working at the museum, apparently hijacked the vessel and escaped before Federal Police units could arrive on the scene. Sources close to the ancient fighter are dismayed at the theft, but Gertrude Arnim, a member of Rheinland's aristocratic elite who was taking part in the restoration, was somehow not surprised. "He probably flew it off to join the Hessians or some other nonsense," she said with a scowl, "It's what any fool with a space fighter would do. And it was such a nice ship, too!" Authorities are keeping an eye out for the flying relic, but are doubtful that the ship managed to break orbit at all.

The Alster Union declared another victory against the Liberty Navy on Monday after a border patrol was found massacred several thousand kilometers from Freeport Two in the Bering System. Navy authorities refused to comment on the event, but local eyewitness aboard the station claimed to have witnessed a terrifyingly quick surprise attack. "They came out of nowhere and lit the place up," Freelancer Harvey McKnight stated, "Probably were hiding by the asteroids. Whole bunch of them too, must have planned it from the start." Sources claiming to speak for the Alster Union say that the attack was, in fact, a coordinated operation meant to demonstrate their support for repelling the "Libertonian invaders", but failed to substantiate their links with the dissident faction.

Not to be outdone, the Corsairs, barbaric descendants of the Hispania, have begun making a comeback in Rheinland space. Early this morning in Stuttgart an unidentified gunboat and assorted fighters were seen to have assaulted, crippled, and looted a supply ship destined for Planet Baden Baden. Federal Police members suspect the Corsairs to have made the attack, but Orbital Spa and Cruise was unavailable for comment, and the loss of life and resources involved remains unknown.

This has been the Colony News Service, all the news that's fit for you.
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